Jack lock

ABSTRACT

A very popular jack is made by a single manufacturer, but sold under three different names, to-wit, &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Hi-Lift,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Handyman&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Lumberman.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; The present invention provides theftobstructing means for securely and stably mounting and locking a jack of this type to the inner face of a side wall of a pickup tray, or to any other wall structure.

[451 Aug. 27, 1974 United States Patent [191 Herman 2,631,766 3/1953 Kelley.......................... 224/4245 R JACK LOCK w h C M C S m r 6 .m m m w W P m X 0 B o3 m 7 M wa er no Mm mm D we DB n O I n e V n 1 m 7 [22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1973 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No: 393,911

US. A very popular jack is made a ingle manufacturer 21 1/8, 224/4245 R but sold under three different names, to-wit, Hi-

Lift Handyman and Lumberman" The present [58] Fleld of 248/201, 203; 211/4 8; invention provides theft-obstructing means for se- 224/411 42-45 R curely and stably mounting and locking a jack of this type to the inner face of a side wall of a pickup tray,

[ References cued or to any other wall structure.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 2,567,680 9/1951 Runsdorf......i............... 224/4245 R PAIEMEDAU Z 3.831.892

sum 1 m 2 aoooogpgq {000000- JACK LOCK This invention relates to locking means for securing a jack to a pickup body or other wall structure in a theftobstructing and stable manner, and in an operable condition.

The jack for which the securing or locking means is primarily designed is a very popular jack sold under a variety of trade names, to-wit, Hi-Lift, Handyman and Lumberman.

A jack of this kind includes a base having a flat bottom, a stem rigidly unitary with the base, which stem extends at right angles to the base bottom, has a channel that extends throughout nearly all the length of the stem, has a multiplicity of evenly spaced holes that ex tend transversely through the stem, together with a stem-embracing lifting slide that includes a lifting shoulder, a lever pivoted on the slide, means responsive to reciprocation of the lever for lifting the slide step by step relative to the stem, and a settable member which, in one position, makes the slide movement responsive to, and dependent on, lever operation, and in another position frees the slide and the lever carried by it for movement relative to the stem and in unison with one another.

Although the locking means of the present invention would generally immobilize the working parts of the jack with the stem in a horizontal position, the base end of the stem will be referred to herein as the lower end, and the opposite end of the stem will be referred to as the upper end.

Broadly and concisely stated, the jack supporting means comprises fixed upper and lower mounting plates. Means are provided for holding the stem firmly and securely clamped to the lower mounting plate, said means including a retaining plate that lies in the groove of the stem and is covered to a substantial extent by the slide. The upper ends of the stem and lever are firmly and fixedly clamped to the upper mounting plate in fixed relation to one another, and key operated means are provided for preventing relaxation of the clamping pressure. So long as the slide cannot move relative to the stem, the lower retaining plate remains covered and the connection to the lower mounting plate, as well as the connection to the upper mounting plate, remains intact.

For holding the lever in fixed position alongside the stem the upper holding plate is desirably slotted to provide a finger that extends into the upper end of the hollow lever.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a jack securely locked in place within a pickup tray;

FIG. 2 is a detail view showing the connection to the upper mounting plate maintained by the application of a padlock both to a chain which is permanently attached to that plate, and to a wing nut;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation, broken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration, of a modified arrangement at the upper locking means in which a padlock is applied directly to the upper mounting plate and to a wing nut;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the jack and the locking means of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing details of the jack structure.

While the jack, itself, is merely the object to be pro tected and to which the locking means is applied, the coaction of the mounting and locking means with the illustrative jack is so intimate that a clear understanding of how the jack is constructed and how it works is essential to an understanding of the locking means. The parts of the jack are not shown in complete detail, but they are sufficiently shown to afford a clear understanding of the working principle.

The jack 10, which is shown in FIG. 1 as mounted on the inner face of a wall of a pickup tray 12, comprises a flat-bottomed base I4 which is rigidly unitary with a stem 16. When the jack is in use the base 14 usually rests on the ground and the stem 16 extends upward at right angles to the bottom of the base. A slide 18 which embraces the stem includes a lifting shoulder 20. A hollow, tubular lever 22 is pivotally connected to the slide 18 through a fulcrum pin 24. The lower end of the lever 22 is connected through a link 26 to an auxiliary slide 28. The link 26 is pivotally connected to the auxiliary slide 28 through a pivot pin 30.

The lever can be rendered effective by setting a control arm 32 in the raised position in which it is shown in FIG. 5. When the control arm is so set, swinging of the lever 22 from an upright attitude to the horizontal attitude shown in FIG. 5 has the effect of raising the slide 18, with its lifting shoulder 20, a step. During this operation the lever 22 is sustained! by the auxiliary slide 28 through the link 26, the auxiliary slide being itself sustained by a spring plunger 34 which plays in and out of evenly spaced perforations 36 which are formed in the stem 16. At the conclusion of the slide lifting movement a spring plunger 38, carried by the slide 18, enters a perforation 36 one higher than the one from which it started and holds this raised position of the slide 18 during the reverse movement of the lever.

The lever may be rendered totally ineffective, leaving the slides 18 and 28 free to be moved manually, in unison, along the stern in either direction, by shifting the control arm 32 to the lower position illustrated in dotted outline at 32a in FIG. 5.

Details of the means through which the control arm 32 and the plungers 34 and 38 achieve their desired purposes are not fully shown, it being sufficient to know how the well known jack functions and coacts with the mounting means.

It should be further noted that the jack stem 16 is grooved at its opposite sides, there being channels 40 of substantial depth in opposite sides of the stem. It is through the thinned portions of the stem, bounded by the channel bases, that the openings or perforations 36 are formed.

The novel jack mounting means of FIGS. 1 and 2, which constitute one form of the subject matter of the present invention, are shown as depending from the inwardly spaced flange 42 of a pickup tray wall 44, so that there is ample clearance for accommodating the jack parts below said flange and on either side of the flange. Broadly similar provision for jack clearance could, of course, be made on any flat wall.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be first described. For mounting purposes, what will be called a lower mounting plate 46 and an upper mounting plate 48 are riveted to the flange 42 of the pickup wall 44. The plate 46 has unitary with it a projecting screw 50 which may pass through one of the jack stem perforations 36 near the base 14 of the jack. A wing nut 52, both of whose wings are desirably perforated, is threaded onto the screw to clamp the stem 16 firmly against the plate 46. A retaining plate 54 having a projecting finger 56 is then fitted into the channel or groove 40 with its finger 56 extending through an arm of the wing nut 52 to keep the wing nut from turning. The slides I8 and 28 are put into position to cover the plate 54 so that maintenance of wing nut locking is assured.

What has been described up to this point is common to the form of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and to the form disclosed in FIGS. 3 to 5.

In the form of FIGS. 1 and 2 the upper mounting plate 48 is essentially a duplicate of the lower mounting plate 46, and it is similarly riveted to the flange 42 of the pickup tray. It, too, includes as an unitary part, a screw 50 which may pass through a perforation of the stem 16.

A retaining plate 58, impaled upon the screw, is shaped at one side of its screw opening to fit against the stern and at the other side to fit partway around the lever 22. A wing nut 60 is threaded onto the screw 50 to clamp the plate 58 firmly against the stem and the lever. The wings of the wing nut 60 are perforated.

A chain 62 is welded to the plate 48 and is adapted to have one of its links detachably affixed to a wing of the wing nut 60 by a padlock 64. A link of the chain is selected which maintains the chain in a taut condition so that turning of the wing nut will be sharply limited.

The chain and padlock prevent unscrewing of the wing nut, and thus assure that the slide 18 will be maintained in position to cover the retaining plate 54. So long as the retaining plate 54 is covered, the wing nut 52 cannot be unscrewed.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and as thus far described, is a useful and generally effective structure. This is particularly true, however, of that portion of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown at the lower end of the jack.

If a sturdy prying tool were inserted between plates 48 and 58 of FIGS. 1 and 2, plate 58 could be bent to an ineffective position, freeing the lever 22 for jacking operation. By putting control member 32 in the up or active position as illustrated in FIG. 5, and then operating the lever, the jack can be caused to free itself.

This weakness is overcome in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. In FIGS. 3 to 5 the jack structure is identical with that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but the mounting and retaining means associated with the upper end of the jack is modified.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 eliminates need for the chain 62 and provides increased assurance against theft of the jack.

The upper mounting plate 48a has an outturned finger 66 for engaging the side of the lever 22 farther from the stem and an outturned flange 68 for engaging the lower side of the stem 16 which is the side of the stem farther from the lever.

A retaining plate 58a, having an opening through which screw 50a passes freely, is formed with a slot 70 for receiving a wall portion of the upper end of the hollow lever 22. The slot 70 marks off a finger 72 that extends inside the end of the hollow lever.

The wing nut is the same as before and is applied in the same way, but instead of the chain, the mounting plate 48a has an outturned flange 74 having a hole 76 through it. A padlock 64a has its keeper passed through the hole 76 and a perforated wing of the wing nut 60.

The construction and arrangement of FIGS. 3 to 5 is superior to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 for several reasons. The expense, bother and noise of the chain are eliminated. Longitudinal movement of the slide relative to the stem is more positively blocked. The lever is more positively controlled against swinging movement. The plate 58a positively blocks movement of the lever, and hence of the slide, relative to the stem.

Plate 58a, which is desirably of spring steel, is blocked against rotation in a clockwise direction by engagement with the flange 68 of mounting plate 480. The slotted portion of plate 580 obstructs longitudinal movement of the lever 22 relative to the stem, and hence blocks longitudinal movement of the slides 18 and 24. The finger 72 positively prevents movement of the lever away from the stem and, because it is contained within the lever in an inaccessible position, it cannot be bent out of the way.

All these factors make for greater security against theft, and for the suppression of noise.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention. What I desire to cover by letters patent, however, is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination of devices for locking to a wall in a stable and theft-obstructing manner, a jack that includes a flat-bottomed base, a stem that is rigidly unitary with the base and that extends at right angles to the base bottom, has a groove along at least one side and a multiplicity of openings at evenly spaced intervals letting into the groove, a slidable structure which embraces the stem and includes a lifting shoulder, a hollow lever pivoted on a part of the slidable structure for swinging movement in the plane of the stem, mechanism responsive to reciprocation of the lever for advancing the slidable structure upward, step by step, along the stem, and means settable to render the advancing mechanism operative and inoperative as desired,

said combination of devices including a. fixed upper and lower mounting plates,

b. means constructed and arranged to hold the stem firmly and securely clamped to said lower mounting plate, said means including a retaining plate that lies in the groove of the stem and is covered to a substantial extent and immobilized by the slidable structure,

c. means holding the stem and lever firmly and fixedly clamped to the upper mounting plate, and

d. key operated means for preventing release of the stem and lever.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the means for clamping the stem to the lower mounting plate comprises a fixed screw on the lower mounting plate that extends through a selected opening of the stem, a wing nut threaded onto the screw, the wing nut having at least one of its wings perforated, and a retaining plate that fits into the groove of the stem and within the slidable structure, and includes a finger that extends through a wing nut perforation.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the means holding the stem and lever firmly and fixedly clamped to the upper mounting plate includes a screw on the upper mounting plate that extends through a selected opening of the stem, a retaining plate fitted on said screw, and having a finger that fits into the free end of the hollow lever for a substantial distance for fixing the position of the lever both longitudinally and angularly relative to the stem, and in close proximity to the stem, a wing nut threaded on the screw and having at least one perforated arm, and key controlled means securing the wing nut against significant turning relative to the aligned opening of the upper mounting plate.

Disclaimer 3,831,892.D(wid M. Herman, Bonanza, Oreg. JACK LDCK. Patent dated Aug. 27, 1974. Disclaimer filed Nov. 11, 1974, by the inventor. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 of said patent.

[Ofiicz'al Gazette June 24, 1 975.] 

1. A combination of devices for locking to a wall in a stable and theft-obstructing manner, a jack that includes a flatbottomed base, a stem that is rigidly unitary with the base and that extends at right angles to the base bottom, has a groove along at least one side and a multiplicity of openings at evenly spaced intervals letting into the groove, a slidable structure which embraces the stem and includes a lifting shoulder, a hollow lever pivoted on a part of the slidable structure for swinging movement in the plane of the stem, mechanism responsive to reciprocation of the lever for advancing the slidable structure upward, step by step, along the stem, and means settable to render the advancing mechanism operative and inoperative as desired, said combination of devices including a. fixed upper and lower mounting plates, b. means constructed and arranged to hold the stem firmly and securely clamped to said lower mounting plate, said means including a retaining plate that lies in the groove of the stem and is covered to a substantial extent and immobilized by the slidable structure, c. means holding the stem and lever firmly and fixedly clamped to the upper mounting plate, and d. key operated means for preventing release of the stem and lever.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the means for clamping the stem to the lower mounting plate comprises a fixed screw on the lower mounting plate that extends through a selected opening of the stem, a wing nut threaded onto the screw, the wing nut having at least one of its wings perforated, and a retaining plate that fits into the groove of the stem and within the slidable structure, and includes a finger that extends through a wing nut perforation.
 3. The combination of claim 1 in which the means holding the stem and lever firmly and fixedly clamped to the upper mounting plate includes a screw on the upper mounting plate that extends through a selected opening of the stem, a retaining plate fitted on said screw, and having a finger that fits into the free end of the hollow lever for a substantial distance for fixing the position of the lever both longitudinally and angularly relative to the stem, and in close proximity to the stem, a wing nut threaded on the screw and having at least one perforated arm, and key controlled means securing the wing nut against significant turning relative to the upper mounting plate.
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which the means securing the wing nut against significant turning consists of a chain anchored to the upper mounting plate and a key controlled padlock connecting the chain with a perforated arm of the wing nut.
 5. The combination of claim 3 in which the means for securing the wing nut against significant turning consists of a padlock whose movable keeper is passed directly through a perforated arm of the wing nut and an aligned opening of the upper mounting plate. 